My Final Refection

            These last seven weeks have really allowed me to look inside my classroom, help develop a better understanding of the different types of student learning there are, and incorporate different types of technology that benefits the students and allows their creative side to shine through. 

            Starting with my game plan, the only topic that I was able to work on was, “to design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.”  (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008)  My new found love are the websites, Pinterest and Web 2.0:  Cool Tools For Schools.  I have spent hours on these two websites and have found so many cool ideas that I have already begun to implement in my classroom.  For instance, QR codes.  I have already set up the online book editions for Algebra and Geometry using these.  I have also set up passes to leave my classroom using QR codes as well.  I know my students will be excited to see these changes that are happening in my classroom.  I have seen so many creative ideas for classroom décor and student projects.  It has made me become real excited for the beginning of school this year.  My other topic deals with professional learning communities within my district and since we are still on summer recess, I will not be able to start this process until we return.  However, I am looking forward to seeing the benefits that will come upon working with my colleagues.  At this time, I do not think I need to modify my game plan.  I have become very happy with my progress so far.  I believe that my students will give me great reflections on the integration of these new technology pieces and as a class we will both be able to grow and see what more there is to offer as time moves on.

            Not only will I be implementing the use of QR codes in my classroom, but on my website I have set up a link where students are able to turn their homework in, whether they are absent or forgot it at home.  I have also added a blog to my website to promote student communication.  I am still debating on whether or not to set up a wiki site, that way there is another way students are collaborating with each other.  I am in the process of working on electronic exit questions for students to respond to at the end of class.  It will be an easy way for students to use technology in the classroom.  Integrating of problem-based learning is something that my district has just announced that we will be working towards within the next few years.  They have already set up teams to work on these projects based on content areas.  I am extremely happy about this because I seen the benefits of my students while watching them work through the project on surface area and volume.  I was able to bring the real world into geometry.  The awesome part about this was being able to step back and watch the students work with each other and struggle through the different steps of the project.  The part that they seemed most intrigued about was the last part of digital storytelling.  Being able to search the internet for real world solid shapes and then create a video on their findings was neat to watch.  I have saved them all and plan to show them to future classes so they have a basis of what I expect of them.

            Over all, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to actually create a technology based project, allow students to work through it, and now I know what little aspects that need to be changed before I have an entire class complete it.  Having the time to do this doesn’t come very often, but I am very pleased so far.

 References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Cooltoolsforschools - Collaborative Tools. (n.d.). Cooltoolsforschools - Collaborative Tools. Retrieved August 12, 2013, from http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/Collaborative Tools

Monitoring My Game Plan

          So far I have only been able to work on one of my topics for my game plan which is “to design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.”  (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008)  I have found various lessons from the smart board exchange website.  There are numerous lessons that have interactive games built right in the lessons and lots with real world pictures and applications.  I have also used the ideas of my colleagues and started searching in Pinterest.  I have two books on order that deal with Algebra and Geometry and real world applications.  I am excited to receive them and see what they have to offer.  I also just recently came across a website, Web 2.0:  Cool Tools For Schools.  I have not had too much of a chance to go through all the links but I know this will be a great resource and plan to investigate it this current week. 

            As far as my second topic, “participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.”  (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008), I will not be able to start collaborating with my PLC’s until school starts.  However, I am definitely looking forward to finding out and sharing my own ideas with my colleagues. 

I have definitely learned that there are a lot of resources out there that are able to help educators incorporate technology related projects, lessons and real world applications into our classroom.  It just takes some time to actually search and be able to research the links and websites.  “It’s amazing how much a learning environment can change when technology is added to the mix!”  (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009)  This is what I am really looking forward to in my classroom along with watching my students use this technology.  

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Cooltoolsforschools - Collaborative Tools. (n.d.). Cooltoolsforschools - Collaborative Tools. Retrieved July 23, 2013, from http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/Collaborative Tools

SMART Technologies ULC. (2012).  SMART Exchange.  Retrieved July 21, 2013 from, http://exchange.smarttech.com

Carrying Out My Game Plan

            I have two topics that I plan to focus on in my classroom.  First is “to design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.”  (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008)  The second is to “participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.”  (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008)  By creating a game plan, I am able to set goals, make a plan of action, monitor my progress, and then finally evaluate my goals.   

            For my first focus, there are plenty of resources that I can use in order to link real world applications to Algebra and Geometry.  I have started searching for images of different topics related to certain sections in both classes.  I am able to just cut and paste them into my lectures.  I have also searched you-tube for video segments related to real world math, but this seems to be more challenging.  I think incorporating video clips into my lectures will be more beneficial and engaging for the students, compared to just images, but I will have to take what I can get, until I have more time to spend searching.  As far as designing lessons that include technology, I have started using the Smart Exchange for Interactive White Boards for lessons that match my topics in Algebra and Geometry.  I have found several lessons that I can use but would change certain aspects of them.  Most of these have different pieces of technology that allows the students to be active participants which helps them become more engaged.  I will also seek my colleagues in my district and here at Walden University for ideas and lessons for using technology in the classroom. 

            For my second focus, I can only begin to imagine how much information I will gain once I join the technology PLC’s within my district next school year.  The first PLC is strictly on the use of Interactive White Boards and the second is on using I-Pads in the classroom.  Working with my colleagues will allow for many resources to be shared and gained in order to improve my students learning.  I did begin to look into different professional development classes that I can take or have my district pay for me to take, to learn about different emerging and engaging technologies for the classroom.  I did find on the Smart Exchange website an entire section of trainings.  I have written down those that appeal to me and plan on contacting my principal to see what he thinks of paying for me to take the trainings, and then I will be able to share what I learn with my school and even with my colleagues here at Walden University.  According to Cennamo, Ross and Ertmer, 2008, there are many ways that technology can be used to promote creative thinking skills among students in my classroom, but simply using technology will not accomplish this goal, (p.79) which is why it is so important to collaborate with others to determine technology that actually improves students learning.

            I believe I am on the right track so far with my game plan and can only hope that I can continue to strive to make myself a better educator which in turn will make my students more successful.  If anyone knows of any websites that offer technology related math lessons, I would definitely be interested in checking them out and passing on any information along that I can find.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

SMART Technologies ULC. (2012).  SMART Exchange.  Retrieved July 16, 2013 from, http://exchange.smarttech.com

My Personal Game Plan

        The integration of technology in the classroom seems to be more common than not.  With that being said, as an educator I need to become more familiar with not only using, but understanding how it will benefit my students and me.  The NETS-T “are the standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge educators need to teach, work, and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society.” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008)  After reviewing the website, I have found two topics that I am going to try and focus on as an educator.

2.  Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments:  Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS·S.

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

Goals:  I plan on spending more time linking real world applications to Algebra and Geometry.  I also would like to spend some time designing lessons that include different technology applications that I could use in my classroom.

Action:  I plan on browsing the internet for different videos that I could incorporate into my lessons that have real world applications.  Instead of trying to come up with lessons that include technology all on my own, I plan on searching the internet and asking colleagues and classmates of different projects that they have use in the classroom.

Monitor:  I will have the students reflect on the difference of having clips of videos that relate to the real world during the lessons compared to lessons without the videos.  I will try different projects that I found on the internet and incorporate them as much as I can.  As far as projects that I will receive from others, I will have the students and teachers reflect on them and observe them in action, before incorporating them into my classroom.  For the projects that my students complete, I will have them reflect on them so I know what to change, if anything, for the following classes.

Evaluate and Extend:  I will keep track of the videos that the students enjoyed and use their reflections to determine what to include the following year.  I will also make note of the projects that worked well compared to those that did not along with using the reflections of the students to determine what to change, if anything.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership:  Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.

Goals:  I plan to participate in the technology PLC and the iPad PLC within my school next year.  I will learn from my colleagues at Walden University of any creative Algebra and Geometry technology lessons.

Action:  I will not only take what I am gaining from the PLC’s, but also share my findings of technology and lessons to my colleagues within my district and Walden University.  I will ask that my colleagues do the same.

Monitor:  I will keep track of the number of times that I use technology in my math classes.  I will also ask the students to reflect of the use of different technologies and projects as we go.  I will see which type of technology the students prefer, and try to challenge them in any way I can to use different pieces of technology that the students may need more practice with.  I will also ask my colleagues to keep me informed of any new or creative applications they may find as we go.

Evaluate and Extend:  I will consistently check with my colleagues and see which technology applications they are using, figure out what is working and what is not.  I will reflect on every application to determine which are beneficial and which are not.  I will ask my colleagues to do the same.

I really look forward to working with my colleagues in my district and here at Walden University to determine what technology applications are beneficial and keep the students engaged in my math lessons.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.